Visconti-Sforza Tarot (Cary-Yale 1466): Queen of Swords

Swords were typically depicted with curved blades in ancient tarot decks to distinguish them from staves. They correspond to the playing card suit of Spades, (in Italian, spada means sword). This suit represents the element Air, and the social classes of Nobility and Military. Swords are considered a Masculine suit. Swords typically represent intellect, reason, mental clarity, and the sciences. They may also represent conflicts surrounding the questioner.

The Queens typically concern women: mothers, sisters, or female friends. They may represent feminine sensuality, feminine instinct and intuition, female independence, freedom and intellect, and pure motherly virtues such as kindness and love.

Quick thinker. Organised. Perceptive. Independent.

The Queen of Swords may depict a woman in the questioner's life or the questioner themselves. She is a clever, independent, quick thinker who may operate in an intellectual arena such as higher education, or the sciences. She has an unusual clarity of mind and is a free thinker. The Queen of Swords may also refer to a familiarity with sorrow or reflecting on sorrows. She may represent a warning, a self-protection, or a test. She may represent putting thoughts into action, or new ideas or a new enterprise.

Reversed Meaning:Overly-emotional. Bitchy. Cold-hearted.

The Queen of Swords can be prone to withdrawal and coldness. This card may also be a warning against becoming overly-emotional about a situation where a clear head and scientific detachment are required.